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Premier League Matchday 7: Pep's champions out to storm fortress Anfield
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Cian Cheesbrough
LiveScore
Pep Guardiola's champions head to Anfield on Sunday
Pep Guardiola's champions head to Anfield on Sunday

A mammoth encounter between Liverpool and Manchester City headlines Matchday 7’s slate of Premier League action.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Chelsea will want to bounce back form defeats last weekend when they face Everton and Southampton respectively.

All 10 of the weekend's games from the English top flight are previewed below.

Manchester United vs Everton (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will be out to right the wrongs of their 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa last weekend when they face Everton, who brushed aside Norwich 2-0 a week ago.

The Toffees have impressed this season but United’s record against their opponents is encouraging, having lost just one of their last 12 Premier League encounters.

Visiting manager Rafa Benitez has history against United after some feisty occasions whilst in charge of Liverpool, and he has lost seven of his nine away games against the Red Devils.

United man Bruno Fernandes will want to put his late penalty miss last time out behind him, and no player has created more chances in the Premier League than the Portuguese (21).

Meanwhile, Andros Townsend will likely be a key man for the visitors once again — the 30-year-old has been involved in seven goals in eight games since arriving on a free this summer.

Bruno Fernandes (left) will be out to atone for his penalty miss against Aston Villa
Bruno Fernandes (left) will be out to atone for his penalty miss against Aston Villa

Chelsea vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)

Chelsea’s Premier League unbeaten record came to a crashing end against title rivals City last weekend and their home clash against Southampton could present another tricky task.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have proved somewhat of a bogey team for the Blues in recent times after avoiding defeat in their last three clashes (two draws, one win).

What is more, the Saints have taken 19 points from 22 Premier League away games at Stamford Bridge — only at Aston Villa (27) and Crystal Palace (21) have they earned more.

Thomas Tuchel’s men have been one of the league’s most impressive sides this season but have outperformed their expected goals total more than any other side, scoring 12 goals despite an xG of just 8.4.

That can be put largely down to the clinical form of striker Romelu Lukaku, who has nine goals in 12 games against Southampton.

Wolves vs Newcastle (Saturday, 3pm)

After a 1-0 victory over the Saints last weekend, Bruno Lage’s Wolves will hope to continue their recovery with a victory over Newcastle, who are still searching for a first win.

The hosts will have to improve on their disappointing league record against the Magpies at Molineaux after going seven games without a win since a 1-0 victory in the second tier in 1993.

They have also lost their last four games at home, their longest such streak since 2012.

But Newcastle have not had much success against the Midlands outfit in recent encounters, winning just one of the last nine games between the pair.

Raul Jimenez’s first Wolves goal in almost a year will have been welcomed, while Allan Saint-Maximin could be key for Steve Bruce’s men after being directly involved in five of Newcastle’s seven strikes this season (two goals, three assists).

Leeds vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)

Also searching for their first win of the season are Leeds, who will hope that it arrives against a Watford side who have impressed at times in the early stages of their Premier League return.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men sit in the relegation zone after earning just three draws and are struggling to replicate their impressive first season. The Whites have never failed to win in their first seven games of a campaign in their history.

Luke Ayling and Leeds are yet to taste victory in the Premier League
Luke Ayling and Leeds are yet to taste victory in the Premier League

Holding on to a lead has proved particularly problematic, having already dropped five points from winning positions — they let only six slip during the whole of the 2020-21 campaign.

But the Yorkshire outfit did win both of the only previous top-flight meetings between the pair, 2-1 away and 3-1 at home in the 1999-00 campaign.

The Hornets have won their last three league games against Leeds though, while they are also unbeaten in their five on the road versus their opponents.

Burnley vs Norwich (Saturday, 3pm)

The Premier League drop zone's other two inhabitants also face off on Saturday when winless duo Burnley and Norwich do battle at Turf Moor.

Despite previously proving a fortress for Sean Dyche’s men, the Clarets are without a win in their last 13 home games in the top tier (six draws, seven defeats).

But the visit of the Canaries will be welcomed as the hosts have lost only one of their last 11 meetings and won both of their Premier League encounters against the East Anglian outfit.

Indeed, Norwich’s return to the top flight has been miserable so far, with 0 points and a -14 goal difference after six outings. They will be aiming to avoid becoming just the fifth side to lose their opening seven league games.

Burnley have dropped more points from winning positions this season (10) than any other side, while Norwich are the only team yet to take the lead in a game. 

Brighton vs Arsenal (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event)

Three successive victories, including a dominant 3-1 win over bitter rivals Tottenham last weekend, has lifted the mood at Arsenal — but they face one of the Premier League's form sides this weekend in Brighton.

Graham Potter’s men are still unbeaten following a last-gasp equaliser against rivals Crystal Palace on Monday, which leaves them one point off the top in fifth place.

This is just the second time the Gunners will face Brighton while being below them in the top flight, with the only other time coming in January 1982.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have kickstarted their season with three successive victories
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have kickstarted their season with three successive victories

Monday’s goalscorer Neal Maupay has netted four of Brighton’s eight strikes this season, while he has claimed the winner in two of his previous three games against the Gunners

Meanwhile, visiting fans will hope Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang is starting to rediscover his form after scoring five goals in five appearances — more than he has in his previous 17 (four).

Crystal Palace vs Leicester (Sunday, 2pm)

Two sides who will be frustrated with their points totals so far this season meet when Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace entertain Leicester.

The Foxes have struggled to hit their usual heights so far this term and have suffered three defeats already, while Palace have just a solitary victory to their name despite several impressive performances.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have lost each of their last three trips to London in the Premier League, as many as they had in their previous 14 games against sides from the capital.

It may be a tall order to improve that record here too given Vieira’s troops are unbeaten in their three games at Selhurst Park this season.

Jamie Vardy has been involved in 86% of Leicester’s seven Premier League goals so far this season (five goals, one assist). With 89 goals since turning 30, Vardy is also closing in on Ian Wright’s record of 93 Premier League goals scored after the landmark birthday.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 2pm)

Confidence is high in the Aston Villa camp after victories over Everton and Manchester United
Confidence is high in the Aston Villa camp after victories over Everton and Manchester United

Fresh off their North London derby defeat, Tottenham face a tricky task to get back winning ways against in-form Aston Villa.

The Villans have recorded back-to-back wins over Everton and United in the Premier League and will be looking for consecutive victories over Spurs for the first time since September 2008 following last season's 2-1 victory in their last meeting.

History heavily favours a home win, though, with Spurs winning 10 of their last 12 games against the Midlands outfit.

But Spurs have lost their last three games by an aggregate score of 9-1 — last losing four in a row in the top tier back in November 2004.

Striker Danny Ings will hope to continue his strong form against Sunday’s opponents after netting six in his previous six against Spurs while playing for Southampton.

West Ham vs Brentford (Sunday, 2pm)

West Ham and Brentford have their first meeting since April 1993 with both sides impressing in the Premier League’s upper echelons.

David Moyes’ men continue to exceed expectations, with only City (34) and Tottenham (28) earning more points in home Premier League games in 2021 than the Hammers (26).

The Bees have also been a tough nut to crack during their first Premier League season, going unbeaten in their first three away games on the way to earning nine points overall.

There is an intriguing battle between two of the league’s in-form marksmen, with Michail Antonio having the highest goal involvement of any player this season (eight), while Ivan Toney has two goals and two assists in his maiden top-flight season.

The Hammers have lost their last four games against an opponent playing in the top flight for the first time after going down against Bournemouth in 2015-16, Hull in 2008-09, Reading in 2006-07 and Wigan in 2005-06.

Liverpool vs Manchester City (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Rounding off the fixture list is one that promises to have the most eyes on it as the Premier League’s last two title winners face off.

Liverpool are the only unbeaten Premier League side left and have scored more than any other side (15), while City further outlined their title credentials with their victory at Stamford Bridge.

Mohamed Salah has six goal involvements in his last five games against Manchester City
Mohamed Salah has six goal involvements in his last five games against Manchester City

The Reds have won just one of their last seven games against reigning champions, but the solitary victory did come against City on the way to lifting the 2019-20 trophy.

Jurgen Klopp has proved to be Pep Guardiola’s most difficult opponent during his glittering career, losing eight times against the German.

Joint Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in six goals his last five appearances at Anfield, scoring four and assisting two.

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